Go ahead, call us cheesy, unoriginal saps if you will, but some of our happiest moments involve Christmas dinners at home, with all the trimmings and all of the family. So what if you didn’t do all that growing up, it’s never too late to start. So avoid the maddening crowds and just stay in. Embrace the season, turn your AC units on full blast and cheat like we do. These are some of the best places to pick up a bird this year, so you can enjoy all the benefits and none of the hassle.
Café Noël
2/F Fairmont Singapore, 80 Bras Basah Rd., 6339-7777.
With the focus clearly on local flavors, true blue Singaporeans will adore turkey “la Peranakan” ($280)—a whole boneless bird filled with spiced-buah keluak pork and chestnuts, sauced with natural turkey jus infused with kaffir lime leaves. Take a “flight of fancy” with a whopping 5 kg deconstructed interpretation ($480); there’s black truffle-scented leg confit, herb-crusted roulade of Iberico ham and turkey breast, roasted leg stuffed with marron glace puree and slow-cooked turkey breast hiding champagne duxelles. Or dare to be different with a three kilo “goose of the Orient” ($480)—a boneless, oven-baked goose treasure trove of glutinous rice, truffles, conpoy, dried dates and figs, finished with a black truffle reduction. Grab one of these beauts now through Dec 26.
The Deli
G/F Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Rd., 6730-1786.
It’s always refreshing when chefs attempt to reinvent classics, especially so when they do it well. For a different take on turkey, try the baked boneless turkey stuffed with thick and springy Shanghai noodles that have been wok-fried with strips of tender pork and cabbage ($128). Or opt for the Hainanese rendition that’s been poached in a chicken broth infused with garlic, ginger, pandan leaves and spring onions ($188) and served with 12 fragrant Hainanese-style chicken rice
balls. Porcine pleasures await in the form of BBQ Sichuan pork shoulder skewers ($48 for a dozen) and Canadian pork belly confit ($108) that’s been marinaded for eight hours, then baked for 16 and finally seared with thyme, rosemary and garlic, served with sweet braised cabbage. We reckon the local Christmas combo ($260) of Hainanese turkey, Sichuan BBQ pork skewers, D24 durian log cake and a “create your own gingerbread Christmas tree” is a fab deal (from now through Dec 26).
Stellar at 1-Altitude
62/F One Raffles Place, OUB Centre, 1 Raffles Place, 6438-0410.
With the 1-Rochester Group having brought us Roast, Coast and 1 Caramel, you can be sure that the offerings will be delish. And with executive chef Christopher Millar holding tightly onto the reins, you can happily pretend these classics are your own labors of love. We promise we won’t tell, so long as you grease our empty palms a little. Don’t leave without a roast turkey with cranberry and pear relish ($120), honey and whole grain mustard-glazed ham on the bone ($240) and herb and horseradish-crusted roast prime rib ($450 for six kg). Or if you’d prefer something a wee bit smaller, how about roast baby chickens wrapped in prosciutto and stuffed with figs ($18 each, min. order of six)? They’re available from now through Dec 24, so grab yourself a bird that you can proudly bring home to meet the rents.
Yule Market
Get into the spirit of things with The Pantry’s Yule Market at Loewen Gardens (75E Loewen Rd., 6474-0441) on Dec 11. There will be everything from mulled wine to Christmas puddings and cakes, fresh vegetables and chutneys and wines and beers from 8.30am-2pm.
